Winterfest shows that downtown Nanaimo’s heart is still beating
The construction has led to parts of Commercial Street being blocked off and temporarily reducing street-side parking along the street while businesses are still accessible via sidewalks. Photo: Lauryn Mackenzie / CHLY 101.7fm
For the first time in recent history, a Christmas tree has been lit at Diana Krall Plaza, kicking off the holiday season for downtown Nanaimo.
The tree lighting also marks the start of Winterfest, a recent downtown tradition where shops on Commercial Street stay open late on Thursday nights leading up to Christmas. Starting on Thursday, December 5 until Thursday, December 19, shops will welcome late-night and last-minute shoppers until 8 p.m. every Thursday.
On December 5 the Downtown Nanaimo Business Association held a special kick-off to this year's Winterfest and tree lighting with live music, food trucks, and a visit from Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus.
John Barsby Secondary School’s School of Rock music program performed throughout the night while people filled the plaza outside the library.
Fred Jeffery, owner of the downtown clothing store Lucid and president of the Downtown Nanaimo Business Association, spoke to the crowd about the current state of downtown during the Design Commercial project.
“As we all know, downtown Nanaimo is in its transformation era, doing a little bit of construction, some renovations around here,” Jeffery said. “Unfortunately, this is not without some growing pains. My hope is that this tree tonight will symbolize that the heart of downtown is still beating.”
Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus taking a stop at Lucky Cloud to check out the store. Photo: Lauryn Mackenzie / CHLY 101.7fm
He told the crowd that during the construction he has appreciated the support of the public and that he would like to think the tree represents that more good things are coming for the downtown.
The City of Nanaimo’s Design Commercial project is to upgrade the subsurface and streetscape of the street. The first phase is expected to be completed by May or June of next year.
The construction has led to parts of Commercial Street being blocked off and temporarily reducing street-side parking along the street while businesses are still accessible via sidewalks.
CHLY spoke with Fred Jeffery at the clothing store Lucid following the tree lighting.
He said while the construction has been disruptive for businesses, especially those on the two blocks where the construction currently is, everyone has been doing their best to keep things running smoothly.
He points out a negative narrative being used online and in some media that makes the construction seem more problematic than it actually is. He said while the noise from the construction is disruptive for the businesses next to it, and the restrictive areas make it harder for people to get around, the narrative is not absolutely true.
“Because of construction earlier this year on Terminal [Avenue] and then now on parts of Commercial Street, it's definitely had an effect on business,” he said. “Especially that narrative folks might want to avoid downtown because they think there's delays or that construction will make it harder to get around or to find parking or anything.”
He said they have been really lucky as Nanaimo’s city council has approved free two-hour parking throughout the downtown area.
Now people wanting to park near Commercial Street can find free two-hour parking on levels 2 and 3 of the Bastion Street Parkade along with surface street parking available on Commercial Street (south of Wharf Street), Front Street, Chapel Street, Church Street, Bastion Street, Anchor Way and Cameron Road.
Jeffery said the local businesses downtown really appreciate it when people take the time to come downtown to shop or eat at a restaurant or cafe.
“As a small business owner, I know that sometimes one or two sales in a day can make a real big difference to how good that day feels,” Jeffery said. “So we really do appreciate every single sale that comes that happens, especially during this time of year.”
Jeffery (pictured) said the local businesses downtown really appreciate it when people take the time to come downtown to shop or eat at a restaurant or cafe. Photo: Lauryn Mackenzie / CHLY 101.7fm
He said right now hearing from other small businesses, most people have a positive outlook on the construction and know that this “short-term pain, will have long-term gain.” But he said even without the contraction businesses have been struggling.
“I think this is happening on a much broader level than just in our little downtown. I think businesses are struggling in the mall. I think large chains are struggling,” he said. “I think the fact of the matter is our economy isn't encouraging folks to be out spending.”
While Lucid is not on the block of the current construction, Jefferey said his business has been struggling. He notes the construction on Terminal Avenue that a point had to close the block his business was on which slowed down traffic to his store. But he said even without the construction he has seen the lack of people coming downtown to shop.
“But even in the summer months, when contraction wasn't happening–when things were open, I noticed this at the night market. It was as well attended as any other year, if not more, it was just bigger and more robust and more folks,” Jeffery said. “But when I looked around and really paid attention, there were a lot fewer people carrying bags around, and I think [of] people again, it goes back to that economic thing, they just don't have that extra money. But they're coming down and enjoying our community and enjoying our downtown, which is just as important, right?”
One store that is on the same block as the construction is Red Shelf Decor where owner Steven Johns said things have been slower for the business. He said while construction has a play in it, also the economy, interest rates, weather, and the postal strike have been playing in how the business has been going
“So I would say, yeah, it hasn't been the greatest, but I don't think the construction has affected business that much,” Johns said. “I think the City and [Windley Contracting] are handling it really well and pivoting and maneuvering really well. I honestly think it's going a lot better than I expected.”
Red Shelf Decors sells vintage, antique, one-of-a-kind decor and small furniture along with art.
He said right now businesses have been coming together to support each other during this time.
Johns (pictured) said right now businesses have been coming together to support each other during this time. Photo: Lauryn Mackenzie / CHLY 101.7fm
“I think we've generally just got a really great positive attitude as businesses, and we have to keep that positivity up because we can't ask people to come down here and support us if we're not supporting each other and ourselves,” he said.
Businesses like the Nanaimo Art Gallery located on the same block as the construction has been highlighting other businesses on Commercial Street on their social media. They have been posting fun short videos showing how people can support the gallery along with other local shops and restaurants on the street.
Seeing the large turnout at opening Winterfest this year, Johns said it shows how the construction is not keeping people away from supporting the downtown business. He said now is the time more than ever to support local businesses.
“I think support what you want to be here in five months, 10 months, two years,” he said. “So if you have a favourite coffee shop, if you have a favourite business, support it right now–because take the construction out of it–it's still tough times right now, and I really want to see people not only survive this but thrive in it.”
One store that will be leaving Commercial Street is NY LA Fresh Thread, a men’s wear store that after celebrating its ten-year anniversary will be closing its doors at the end of January.
Owner Leon Drzewiecki said closing the store was a hard decision for him to make.
“We've been trying really hard to see if we can do to keep the store down here,” Drzewiecki said. “But, we haven't really recovered since 2020 and there's been some other issues that have happened the last couple of years with interest rates the way they are [and] people’s shopping habits. People are just spending less on retail.”
He said that the two different construction projects–first on Terminal Avenue and now in front of his business on Commercial Street, were the final nail in the coffin.
But as one store closes one will be opening, as Drzewiecki is currently soft-opening a new cafe and bakery right beside his clothing store.
Located at the old Perkins coffee shop, Brix + Mortar SocialHouse is Commercial Street’s newest addition. Right now the cafe offers hot and cold drinks and bites to eat. Drzewiecki said soon they hope to start to offer different types of breads and pastries made right in the cafe.
Currently, only in its soft launch period Drzewiecki (pictured) said business has been very positive. Photo: Lauryn Mackenzie / CHLY 101.7fm
Currently, only in its soft launch period Drzewiecki said business has been very positive from people stopping by to get something to eat or drink.
“We're seeing a lot of regular customers coming every single day, and people really like what we're doing down here.” Drzewiecki said. “Once we've got everything put together, we have our baked goods and everything, we start our hard launch, and we do our big, grand opening, and start doing some advertising, I'm sure more people will start coming in but we're so far so good.”
He said while the free parking is great he would like to see some better signage for the parking and where people can find it. Currently, there is no signage on Commercial Street showing patrons where they can find additional free parking and how to get there.
“Yeah it is a detractor from our downtown, but at the same time, this is a really great project,” he said. “The end result is going to be phenomenal. I can't wait for the trees to be back out here, and the nice big patios, and have a really nice, beautiful street back again.”
Winterfest is running downtown Nanaimo until December 19th on Thursday nights with live music, food trucks and late-night shopping.
Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.